The Algarve and the Lisbon Metropolitan Area were among the regions with the most significant increase in employment in the EU in 2017. Eurostat recently released data confirming that 253 EU regions, representing 90% of the total, registered a rise. In 26 other districts, employment decreased and in two others, remained unchanged.

Between 2012 and July 2017, just eight Golden Visas, out of a universe of 5,243, were granted based on the creation of job positions in Portugal. The vast majority of investors (4,945) choose to buy homes costing more than €500,000 in order to qualify for permanent residency programme.